St. Paul daily globe., 1887-05-29


passed, and no letter came, no word or
sign of her lover.
At length Paulita's facebegan to grow
thin and pale, her eyes seemed larger
darker-fOr great hollows came about
them. She did not care for food. She
did not sleep at night.
And still she waited for his letter.
One afternoon the mistress bade her
to do some work that needed the mis-
tress' supervision.
Paulita sat palely Watching her
stitches and plying her needle. E!Some
strange influence had moved her to take
the turquoise ring from her bosom and
place it upon her wedding-ring finger.
Her hands were very thin and white
to match the pallOr of her face. and the
blue and heavy gold shone markedly.
Was there any StrangeneSS in this,
that friend of Paulita'S mistress, an in
innate friend, brusque, elderly, some
what eccentric lady should drop in for
chat, and so sit with Paulita's mistress
in her bOudOir?
at her mistress. But the latter only
smiled languidly.
You need not go, Paulita. Continue
your work." And to her visitor: "This
is my SeamStreSS. She is an excellent
little creature; you need not mind her
at ALL"
mop" said the visitor, good-humor-
edly, but she glanced sharply at the
girl. And presently, when she had
spoken little with her friend. she ap-
peared greatly interested in what the
seamStreSS was doing.
She was a woman with heavy, almost
coarse voice. And when she Suddenly
addressed Paulita the girl started and
grew shade paler.
That is very peculiar ring you
wear"
Eyes, madam" said Paulita, in low
voice.
'.Will you oblige me by letting me
look at it?''
Paulita's breath came hard for a mo-
ment. Her cheeks began to crimson.
She slowly drew the band from her
finger and carried it to the visitor.
Certainly, madame" she said, but
rather indistinctly.
''Ahem!' said the lady. eyes. Very
quaint. Quite rococo, ! may say. May
ask where you got it?'
Paulita's crimson cheeks grew more
like scarlet.
''It was-a gift" she answered.
''Ah! And for how much could l in
duce you to part with it?'
Paulita's head was raised proudly.
'fOT no money!! Sne SdlQ.
''You really mean you would not like
to let it go? 1t is very valuable, is it
not?"
SIT is priceless" said the girlegaining
some courage.
Her mistress smiled languidly as she
sat watching.
go you really fancy the ring?np she
inquired of her caller. l sa
The latter nodded briskly.
81 want it very much" :
''Oh well, Paulita," said her mistress,
''let Mrs. Van Campen have the ring if
she chooses to buy it from you. Who
gave it you, anyways"
my sweetheart gave it to me-" said
Paulita, after a silence. in which she
seemed nerving herself for something.
''It iS-my-engageme ring. Nobody
OH earth-no money could buy it from
me-" Her eyes were fixed upon the
treasure as she spoke, jealousy.
"Ahemr' said the caller. Engage
ment ring? 1 wonder who the thief
was? You see, this ring is mine. I
can identify it by the inside. l
haven't looked yet and couldn't
younger eyes could find the letters 'R'
and 'H' and date. The ring is older
than it looks. People do not wear good
turquoises constantly. They are easily
diScolored." ,se.:
Paulita stood motionless. No sound
came from her lips. The scarlet had
faded from her cheeks. A sickness, a
deathly feeling had come upon her.
What did it mean? Her-ROger's-
ring! Stolen! This woman knew the
inscription.
The room seemed going around. She
was dizzy, faint.
And then the callers voice fell upon
her again through the darkness.
''Of course, don't doubt you came by
it honestly, my poor girl, but neverthe-
less it is-or was-my ring. Your sweet
heart probably bought it at pawnshop
where it had been left-ha! ha!-by
my seapegraee of nephew: My
favorite nephew, my incorrigible.
Always into scrapes and always hav
ing to be helped out. 1 suppose" (she
was talking to Paulita's mistress now
81 suppose young men must be young
men, and young rascals as well. Only
fancy that scalawag of Roger-yOu
know my nephew, Roger Hastings